Transfers week...

Today was Transfers!

The AP's are a little bit scatter brained and changed p-day to today for no real fantastic reason. But! I am still alive and here. Saturday night I got the shock of being told I was the one being transferred. Normally they keep missionaries with their trainers for two transfers, I was not so lucky. However, I am excited to now be in the Maricopa Stake in Mesa. I am in a Spanish WARD!!!! With over 300 active members and 9 missionaries serving within ward boundaries. This area is the heart of Spanish Work in the Mission so I am really excited.

My new companions name is Elder Williams. He is from Montgomery, Alabama and has the southern accent and all. I am way excited to be companions with him because he is almost as new as I am at being a missionary. He is a convert to the Church. He was in college to be a Pentecostal Pastor when he met the missionaries and was eventually baptized. He has been disowned by his family and he really seems to have a great story behind his coversion. I have not really had time to hear it as we just met up at the mission office a few hours ago in Scottsdale. This is his 3rd transfer, my 2nd. We are not too far apart. We are a very, VERY green companionship. Miracles are going to happen though, I am sure of that.

I was preparing all last week to take over the area back there in Phoenix. I was taking control of the area book and all. But, President Ellsworth threw us a curveball and transferred me out here. I had a great last week. We taught a ton of lessons and found some former investigators that finally found a desire to keep some committments. That was a really sweet experience.

One girl's name was Natalie, she was being taught by the Elders about 5 months ago, but they dropped her because she would never go to church. She utterly refused. But, Elder Hainsworth saw her and decided that he needed to go and talk to her. We spoke with her and found out her history with the missionaries. She told us she had read since she last met with them, and she got an answer to her prayers as to whether or not the Book of Mormon was true. Sure enough, she felt the Spirit testify to her of its truthfulness. I am sad that I will not get to be there to see her progress and eventually get baptized.

As for Celso, an even greater miracle just happened a few days after my last email. We went to teach him on thursday evening, but he was not there. His wife invited us in because she felt bad that he was not there for his appointment. Celso had discussed with his wife, Leyda, about how he is going to be getting baptized. She told us about how this made her interested in our message, because her husband was supposedly not too religious prior to speaking with us. She told us to teach her something. We settled on teaching a 15 minute lesson two. We did so and it could not have been a more perfect lesson. Her mother back in Acapulco died last year and just a few moths ago she had a miscarriage in the 3rd trimester. When she found out her little girl was not bound to hell, she was overwhelmingly happy. We continued to finish the lesson. At the end, we committed her to baptism. She said there is nothing she wants more right now. She has a son, Axel, who is 7, a daughter, Sara, who is 5, and another son, Lorenzo, who is 3. We have a family! A FAMILY! I had been praying for that in every personal prayer the whole transfer. I wanted that more than nothing else. And miraculously with the help of Heavenly Father, I saw my prayer answered.

The most incredible thing is to see all of my progressing investigators being blessed. Celso had no work before he began being taught. Sandra had not a penny to her name before being taught. Elivra was sick and depressed before being taught. Now, Elvira is one of the happiest, most outgoing people I have ever know. Her testimony is blossoming into something very powerful and filled with great joy. Celso and Sandra both got jobs within the last week and they are working so much they have hardly enough time to meet with us. All of these people are being blessed because they are taking the steps of repentance through keeping their committments. I love my mission because of the miracles I see every day.

I went to the Temple with our recent converts, Daniel and Isabel. It was their first time there. They could not have loved it more. After we watched the "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" movie, they asked if they could take a private walk around the temple. They did so. They told us they plan on being inside as soon as possible to be sealed. It truly is incredible to see families making the proper steps towards eternal glory.

I spent the last few days saying goodbye to my many new friends I had made in the Camelback 1st branch. I love them, every one of them. I am pretty sure they will remember me too because I have a really easy name to remember. They just call me, "Person" like, "Persona" without the A. I am going to miss a lot of them. Hno. Curay, the ward mission leader from Peru, he is a great man that has the most incredible family in the world. Pres. Alvarado is as bold a branch president as I have ever seen. La Familia Curiel is just outright awesome. Raul Curiel is a handyman at an apartment complex. Every person he helps there essentially turns into a refferal and at least one lesson. I am going to miss Pheonix a lot. I love the people and their way of life.

Although, I am way, way pumped to be here in Mesa. It has a more homey feel here. I feel like everyone is just taking it easy and living life here. I have my frist appointment here in a few hours to go and teach a 13 year old girl with a date, and her parents. I am excited to see how the new dynamic with Elder Williams goes. We are both pretty even Spanish wise and we both are pretty laid back. I love Elder Hainsworth and I am so grateful for all he taught me, but, I think Elder Williams and I will get along just great. Our apartment is HUGE! We live about 10 minutes from the temple and all. It is good. Plus, my Companion is a convert. That is missionary GOLD!!!! Oh yeah, and it is a bike area. So, I outfitted my bike with some Specialized Armadillo tires and slime tubes. I am not getting a single flat this transfer. I am way excited to do this. I will have lots of stories by next tuesday for sure. And hey, look at it this way, you will all hear from me in less than a week now.

I love you my family. I have been praying for each of you specifically every day. I know it will all work out with chemistry maddy. Maybe it is going to teach you patience and diligence. Just drop your shoulder and run on through. Dad, I pray for you to be safe on your bike every day. It is fairly risky and all. Mom, I pray that you will not have so much pain and all and I pray for you to find happiness in the little things in life. And Will, I pray for you to grow up and be ready to get the priesthood here in a year or so. You are gonna be a little man by the time I get home. Now is the time to start making the right decisions and following the commandments. Maddy, you are going to be a woman by the time I get home. Life is at it's hardest when we are in High School. I grew up a lot there and I learned to be my own person. Keep on keeping on!

I love you all and miss you a ton. I appreciate your prayers and support. I also appreciate the prayers and support of everyone else. I know I would not be having such luck and success were it not for all that I have been taught my whole life. Keep on being the ones I love and life will only get better!

I love you all!

Elder Jonathan Alma Pearson

(posted by Maddy)